Physical Crop Postharvest Storage and Protection Methods

Abstract

Sustainable and organic plant production uses natural products and natural self-regulation processes occurring in the ecosystem. The awareness is growing and the demands of consumers are higher and higher. One solution is to use various methods, as an alternative to pesticides. It is also very important to care for the stored crops after harvesting especially using non-chemical methods. The physical method of plant protection consists in treating the harmful organism with physical factors such as temperature, its same light and radiation, controlled atmosphere, special packaging, pressure, various sounds, ozone, and low-temperature plasma. The availability of effective application techniques opens up new possibilities for the storage of crops in order to maintain their health and quality for a long time. This review focuses on the analysis of physical methods of postharvest protection, especially the latest methods using ozone and low-temperature plasma. As a result, consumers of agricultural crops will be able to consume food free of insects, mycotoxins and pesticide residues.

Plant extracts - importance in sustainable agriculture

“…The estimated annual usage of pesticides is 2.5 million tonnes while the damages caused by them reach $100 billion globally (Koul et al, 2008;Saroj et al, 2019). At present, the primary aim of plant protection is the implementation of novel and harmless methods of restricting the growth of pests in crop cultivation (Hassauer and Roosen, 2020;Kopacki et al, 2021). This requires the introduction of the concept of sustainable production of high-quality food in socially accountable means, rational management of natural resources, and reduction of synthetic products applications.…”

“…This requires the introduction of the concept of sustainable production of high-quality food in socially accountable means, rational management of natural resources, and reduction of synthetic products applications. The desired goal is to eliminate and limit the activity of destructive organisms, and to predict the time they appear and the possible extent to which they might spread (Kopacki et al, 2021). Sustainable development is the future for the reduction of pollution of air, plants, soil, groundwater, and animals (Oruonye and Okrikata, 2010;Berk et al, 2016;Andreotti, 2020;Suciu et al, 2020).…”

“…Sustainable development is the future for the reduction of pollution of air, plants, soil, groundwater, and animals (Oruonye and Okrikata, 2010;Berk et al, 2016;Andreotti, 2020;Suciu et al, 2020). Currently, agrotechnical, biological, breeding, chemical, mechanical, physical, and quarantine methods are used for plant protection (Kopacki et al, 2021;Trebbi et al, 2021). However, the development of substitute control strategies to decrease reliance on synthetic pesticides is the ultimate aim of recent studies (Gurjar et al, 2012).…”

Effectiveness of Ozonated Water for Preserving Quality and Extending Storability of Star Ruby Grapefruit

“…Zamuner et al [8] investigated the use of a cinnamaldehyde-based formulation as an alternative to sodium hypochlorite, which can damage the fruit peel, as a postharvest sanitizer for citrus fruit. As a result, innovative, environmentally friendly solutions to prevent rotting [9] and extend the life of citrus fruits after harvest are urgently needed [10]. To date, several non-chemical postharvest treatments for the control of P. digitatum and P. italicum have been investigated, including irradiation, biocontrol agents, natural compounds, hot water treatment, and salts, in the hope of providing an alternative to the synthetic fungicides currently in use, which may have harmful effects on human health and the environment [11].…”

Efficacy of Ozone Gas against All Stages of Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) at Different Temperatures and Exposure Periods

“…To reduce acute and chronic risks from the use of insecticides, it has prompted radical changes in pest management strategies and the substitution of pesticides with effective but less dangerous substances (Pretty & Bharucha, 2015). Ozonation is one of the promising alternatives against wide range of insects of stored products such as T. confusum and Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Sitophilus zeamais, Rhyzopertha dominica (Kells et al, 2001;Mason et al, 2006, Pimentel et al, 2007Sousa et al 2008;Tiwari et al, 2010;Sabeat, 2017;Kopacki et al, 2021;Seyedabadi et al, 2021). Ozone (O3) is extremely oxidative and environmentally friendly because of its decomposing rapidly to oxygen without leaving any residue side effects on the treated grain (Mendez et al, 2003;Khadre et al, 2001).…”